Flash light



De. 25, 1934. G B. PRATT l 1,985,459

FLASH LIGHT Filed June? 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 600m/ch' P/Wr Dec. 25, 1934. v G. B. PRAT-r 1,985,459

FLASH LIGHT Filed June 14, 193()V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w lu'- mm] colvwemtoz @oook/cw a. PRA'rr Patented Dec. 2,5, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlxCE Bond Electric Corporation,` Jersey City, N. J., a

corporation of Delaware application June 14, 1930, serie! No. 461,098

' '1o claims. "(ol. 173-358) The present invention relates to ashlights and other electric hand lanterns in which an incandescent lament lamp serves as the source` of light. More particularly, the invention relates to ,an incandescent lamp supporting structure whereby the'ashlight or lantern may be used in mines and other locations where explosive gases are present and which is so constructed that the electricl circuit including the filament is automatically interrupted and the filament ceases to glow upon rupturing of the glass bulb enclosing the filament, in order to prevent access of the explosive gas to the incandescent filament with consequent danger of explosion.

While previous attempts have been made to provide flashlights and the like of this character, the resulting structures have fallen short of complete success from a commercial standpoint and although such designs have aivorded construetions in which the lamp filaments have been extinguished automatically upon rupture of the bulb, various characteristics thereof have rendered them objectionable in one respect or another. 1

As an advance over thev prior structures noted above, the present invention contemplates the provision of a lamp supporting structure, wherein the lamp may be readily replaced by a simple operation in which the likelihood of jamming is.

reduced to aminimum. In the replacement of lamps, the present structure is of such character that the reflector does not interfere with such replacement, thus avoiding scratching and marring thereof.

In accordance with the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide a iiashlight and the like so constructed that the lamp filament is automatically extinguished when the bulb is broken, such lamp being characterized by simplicity ,of g design and effectiveness of operation.

A further object ofthe' invention is tov provide a light of theabove character, thelamp4 .of

which is readily replaceable ybya ys imple operation., f

A further object of the invention is to provide a larnp of theabove character. injwhich the lamp maybe tested before assembling the'hood in vpoeinen... i y, Further objects, not specifically 1 enumerated 50 ebeverwiu be apparentes they inventionis describedmore fully, hereinafter and the Iattainment .of such objects is accomplished by 'a conystruction enabling y a l lamp to'l be normally maintained against a-t'erminaha yielding force vnor i5 many being exerted enthe lamp teejeetthe same from the socket when the last named means is renderedineiective due to the breaking of the bulb. To render the breaking of the circuit more effective, alimiting stop is providedV for the yielding contact to prevent the same 5 from following the lamp beyond a predetermined extent, thus causing the lamp sto ybe instantly moved away from the contact, at the same time taffording a desired degree of yield in the con` act.

In order that the invention .may be understood in greater detail, the same will now be described more specifically in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in section, showing a flash- 15 light constructed in accordance with the present invention, the mounting ofthe lamp thereof being illustrated in detail.

Figure 2 is a plan view, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and showing the manner of replacing 20 the lamp of the flashlight shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 1, but show- 25 ing a lmodification of the structure wherein the reciprocating lamp engaging element is formedas a socket for the lamp.

Figure 5 'is a plan view looking from above in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view, in side elevation, looking from the left in Figures 4 and 5..

Figure 7 is a view, in horizontal section, taken on the line 7.7 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the' arrows. 35

4While the invention is illustrated as applied to tubular ashlights of a well'known type, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to any form of lighting unit employing any source of electric current.

Referring to the above drawings, there is shown diagrammatically a fragmentary party of a casing 1 for the flashlight containing a' battery 2 having a centraly terminal 3 in series with an incandescent 45 lampand a circuit closer, not shown.` In the illustrated embodiment`,'a conductor strip 4, formv:ing part ofthe electric circuit of the flashlight, is

shcwn,=iin-Figure 1, in electricalconnection vwith a'fltting 5 formed with parts 7 by which the lamp 50 socket4 supporting structure of rvthis ,invention is positioned. f y j f The lamp 'socket supportingstructure comprises allamp socket'supporting membero'r disc 6 shown as of insulatingzfmaterial, valthough it may be 55 made equally well of metal. The lamp socket support 6 is illustrated as supported upon the inwardly extending fiange 7 of the fitting 5 and retained against displacement by means of portions.

of a conducting member or disc 8, preferably eyeletted to the lamp socket supporting Vdisc 6 by means of eyelets 9, and which supports the lamp mounting elements in the manner to be described hereinafter. It will be obvious that any form of casing for a flashlight or other hand lantern may be provided with the lamp socket supporting structure of this invention as well as the means for removably securing the latter in respect of the casing, and Figure 1 illustrates very schematically an interconnection between the two.

A cylindrical guide 10 is formed of a suitable diameter to receive a lamp base 11 and/or lamp base engaging member 31, the lamp having a' glass bulb 12 and a filament 13. The base may be of the standard type, being either threaded or plane, a threaded lamp base being illustratedherein. The lower extremity of the guide 10 is formed with an outwardly extending peripheral ange 14 which is conveniently secured to the disc 6, and in Figure 1 is shown as secured between the discs 6 and 8 by means of the eyelets 9 passing therethrough. At the upper extremity of the fixed guide 10, outwardly extending arms 15 are formed with upwardly projecting nibs or ears 16 within which the extremities of a bail 17 are hingedly secured. The bail is preferably formed with a crimped portion 18 to render the same more resilient, also to engage more of the surface of the bulb, and permit the lamp to be retained thereby more effectively.

Also carried with the end 6 is a downwardly extending cylinder 19, the upper extremity of which is formed with a peripheral flange 19a which is secured under the ange 14 of the guide 10 and between the discs 6 and 8 preferably also by the eyelets 9. At the lower extremity of the cylinder 19, an inwardly extending flange 20 is formed providing an aperture 21, and disposed upon opposite sides of the flange 20 are spaced insulating discs 22 which mount a battery terminal contact member 23 of conducting material and prevent contact between such member 23 and the inwardly extending ange 20 of the cylinder 19. The contact member 23 is preferably formed with a peripheral groove 24 within which the inner extremities of discs 22 are received to maintain the contact member in position.

Contact member 23 is formed with an upwardly projecting preferably cylindrical extension 25 defining a cylindrical chamber or cylinder i25a. A plunger 26 of conducting ,material is slidably i mounted within the chamber 25a and held against displacement therefrom by means of a disc 27 which serves as a closure for the chamber and which is perforated as a bearing for a contact extension 30 on the plunger 26. The disc 27 is mounted at the upper extremity of the extension 25 by means of the turned over edge 28. A spring 29, within the chamber 25 normally urges the plunger 26 against the disc 27 to cause the contact extension 30 of the plunger to be moved into its extreme outer position (i. e. toward the top in Figure 1), so as to normally have a tendency to yieldingly engage and follow the terminal of the lamp base 11.

Within the guide 10 and cylinder 19, a sleeve or lamp engaging member 31 is mounted. This sleeve is formed at its upper extremity with a lamp engaging portion in the form of an inwardly extending flange 32 or its equivalent, against which the` lamp base 11 seats, in this modification, at its outer periphery. The lower portion of the sleeve 31 ls formed with a seat 33 for a spring 35 bearing against the bottom of the cylinder 19 and tending to urge the sleeve 31 within the guide v10 towards the outer end thereof to eject the lamp from the socket and break the contact between the plunger 30 of limited movement and the lamp base. Preferably the seattakes the form of a portion 33 of enlarged diameter which fits or telescopes within the inner periphery of the cylinder 19 to slide therein.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a lamp bulb may be replaced by swinging the bail 17 to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2. The -spring pressed ejecting sleeve 31 will at once eject the lamp. After removing the old lamp base a fresh one is inserted and forced downwardly against the iiange 32 and pressure of the spring 35. After the-lamp bulb has been depressed sufficiently, the

bail 17 is swung into the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 and spring 35 is permitted to press the lamp bulb 12 against the bail 17, thus holding lit in place. In this position, it will be noted that the plunger 26, 30, by which electrical connection is made with the lamp terminal, is almost at the upper extremity of its stroke, being urged thereto by the spring 29. In the event that the bulb 12 is broken, the sleeve under the influence of spring 35 immediately tends to eject the lamp base and thus moves the central terminal of the lamp bulb 12v away from the contacting extension 30. This contacting extension follows the central terminal for only a very short istance, and practically not at all, the movement possible being only suicient to permit the contact to be yielding and afford a tolerance, the disc 27 limiting the outward movement of the plunger 26 and extension 30 and thus breaking the contact practically instantaneously and causing the lament to cease to glow so that should explosive gases enter the broken lamp bulb their ignition is not possible.

In Figures 4 through 7 like parts of the modification there illustrated are indicated by like reference characters. Although this modication is applicable to a lamp supporting structure similar to that shown in Figure 1, the disc 6 is illustrated as resting upon the cylindrical casing 1 as before, but electrical connection with the conductor strip 4 is shown as made by means of an electrically conductive disc carried therebelow and having a peripheral flange 41 inwardly directed or tapered to facilitate positioning of the lamp socket support on the casing l and the flange 41 makes electrical connection with the upper end of the conductor strip 4. As illustrated, this disc 40 is disposed below the end 6 and carries a guide 110 for the lamp base engaging member. In this modification, the guide 110 extends upwardly in the central aperture of disc 6 only to. or a little above the top surface of disc 6, but serves as a guide or bearing for the lamp engaging member as before. Above the disc 6, there is disposed an annulus 44 'having oppositely disposed ears 116 apertured to receive the outwardly turned ends of a bail 117. The only difference in bail 117 over bail 17 is in the length of the ends or arms which, because of the disposition of the ears 116 proximate the disc 6 must be longer.

The same type of cylinder 19 is illustrated with this modification and the end 6, guide disc 40, cylinder 19 and the annulus 44 are shown as secured together by eyelets 9.

.and a new lamp inserted and the bail 'as a socket 46 into which -t-he lamp base is disposed. While the connection between the socket and lamp base is shown as a screw connection, it

will be apparent that it may merelyrest therein upoii a shoulder such as at 32 or be secured as by a bayonet slot joint or the like.

Here\again when the bale 11'7 is turned through 90, the lamp may be removed (by unscrewing it) 117 replaced as shown nligure 4.' l

It will be seen that the replacement of bulbs may be readily eflected by a simple operation and all likelihood of jamming is entirely eliminated by the simple connections 4and mounting described herein. MFurthermore, the lamp may be mounted in posi ion with the electrical circuit completed without applying -the hood,- thus greatly facilitating testing of the battery and lamp.

It is not necessary to touch the reecting surfacevlof the reector while inserting the bulb, thus preventing scratching and marring of such reecting surface, and the elements, while being simple in construction and readily assembled, are` highly effective and positive in operation.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art inthe disposition, configuration and composition of the component elements going to make up the lamp socket support of this invention as a whole as well as in its application, and no limitation is intended in the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in'the accompanying drawings save as defined in the appended claims. g,

What is claimed iszr 1. A lamp support comprising a guide` for an axially movable lamp base, said guide having a flange formed at one end, a cylinder for a lamp base engaging member coaxial with the guide and of greater diameter than the guide, and having a flange, a 'supportingdi'sd a second disc, and means to secure the flanges and the discs to-v gether.

2. A lamp support comprisingv aguide for anaxially movable lamp base, said' guide having a flange `formed at one end thereof, ,a cylinder for a lamp base engaging member coaxial with the guide and of greater diameter than the guide and formed@ witha flange, a disc and means to ment of the'contact toward the guide, 'a sleeveslidably mounted in the cylinder andhaving a restricted portion slidable in the guide and comprising a lamp base contacting portion, a shoulder on the sleeve to engage the abutment, and a spring in the cylinder seated within the shoulder to urge the sleeve toward the guide. V.

I 4. A lamp support comprising aguide, a resilient contact, means to limit Ithe movement of the contact toward the guide, means to retain a lamp in the guide normally, a sleeve slidable in, the guidev and having an inwardly extending peripheral ange contacting with the bo om of the lamp -base and a springknormally urging the.

sleeve againstthe base.

45. A lamp support-comprising a guide for an axially movable lamp base, a cylinder coaxial thereto, a contact carried by the cylinder, a sleevevslidably mounted in the cylinder and having a lamp base contacting portion, a spring normally urging Ithe sleeve into the guide, a stop on the sleeve, a cooperating stop member carried with the guide toV limit relative movementof the sleeve and means to retain a lamp base in the guide.

6. A lamp support comprising, in combination, a tubular guide for a lamp base axially, movable therein, a cylinder coaxial with the guide, means f to fix the'guide and cylinder against relative vmovement, a resiliently supported lampv base adv contact in opposition vto vthe action of the advancing member.

7. A lamp support comprising the combination with a lamp, of a guide to slidably receive a lamp base, a conductor bearing with spring pressure against the center terminal of the lamp, a conductor resiliently urging the lamp in the same direction as said first named conductor does, means acting through the lamp bulb to support the lamp in opposition to said conductors, said conductors being constructed and arranged to travel in unequal distances incase the lamp is` deprived of said support by the breaking of the .bulb whereby thelast named conductor will move the lamp out of contact with the first named conductor and will thereby open the circuit, said means comprising a'U-shaped guard vformed with a crimp across the front of the bulb to form a seat for the bulb and arms carried with the guide with which the ends of the 4guard are pivotally connected, respectively, to move through an angle ina plane about its pivots to release the lamp.

8. A lamp support comprising the combination with a lamp, of a guide to slidably receive a lamp base, a conductor bearing with spring pressurel against the center terminal pf the lamp, a conductor resiliently urging the lamp in the same direction as said rst named conductor does, means acting through the lamp bulb to support the lamp in opposition to said conductors, said conductors being constructed and arranged to travel in unequal distances in case the lamp is deprived of said support by the breaking of the bulb whereby the last named conductor will move the lamp out'lof contact with the first named conductor and willA thereby open the circuit, said means comprising a U-shaped guard across the front of the bulb to form a seat for the bulb and arms carried with the guide with which the ends of the 'guard are pivotally connected, respectively,

to move through an angle in a plane about its pivots to release the lamp.

9. A lamp support comprising, in combination, y

atubular guide for a lamp base axially movable therein, a cylinder coaxial with the guide, a lamp 'y base advancing member having at least a portion slidablein the vguide for contact with the lamp base,'reskilient means urging the advancing'member incfontact with the lamp base, means to limit movement of the advancing member when urged by the resilient means, a contact for a lamp baseterminal, resilient means urging the contact into electrical connection with alamp base terminal, means permitting movement of the 4 lwaait@ contact for a lesser distance than the advancing member and means acting through the lamp bulb for holding the lamp terminal in electrical contact with said contact in opposition to the resilient means.

10. In a. lamp socket support for a flashlight, the combination with a lamp, of a conductor bearing with spring pressure against the center terminal of the lamp, a conductor resiliently urg ing the lamp in the same direction as said first named conductor does, means acting through the lamp bulb to support the lamp in opposition to said conductors, said conductors being constructcurved loops across the front of the bulb to forni 10 a substantial seat for the bulb.

L GOODRICH B. PRATT. 

